COMING JULY 10, 2026
Casa Valentina is a drama set in the early 1960s that explores identity, secrecy, gender expression, and the struggle for acceptance during a time when gender nonconformity was heavily stigmatized in the United States. The play blends humor, tension, and emotional vulnerability as it follows a group of people who gather at a private resort where they can safely express a hidden part of themselves.
The play takes place in 1962 at Casa Valentina, a secluded Catskills lodge in upstate New York. The resort functions as a discreet refuge for heterosexual men who secretly dress and live as women during their visits. The location is inspired by the real-life Chevalier d’Eon Resort, which operated in the mid-20th century.
Opening Friday, July 10, 2026, at The Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center
Saturday, July 11th.
Doors open @ 7:00 pm - Showtme 7:30 pm
Friday, July 17th
Saturday, July 18th
Sunday Matinee October 19, 20226
Doors open 2:00 pm - Showtime 2:30 pm
THE CAST (in order of appearance)
George / Valentina — Shayne Brakefield
Rita — Melissa Rae Wilkeson
Jonathon / Miranda — Jonathan Hall
Albert / Bessie — Brian Estes-Uecker
Isadore / Charlotte — Timothy Hull
Michael / Gloria — Brad Ulery
Theodore / Terry — Jeff Sherr
The Judge / Amy — Michael Friedman
Eleanor — Marianne Miller
Presented by special permission of Concord Theatricals.
Please join us for a special screening of Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey!
The witty, heartfelt comedy that captured the spirit, resilience, and humor of a generation navigating life and love during the height of the AIDS crisis.
Whether you're discovering Jeffrey for the first time or revisiting this beloved classic, we invite you to share an evening of laughter, reflection, and community. This special screening celebrates the enduring power of friendship, hope, and finding joy even in life's most challenging moments.
Following the screening, learn more about ActOut Theatre Group's upcoming production of Jeffrey, meet members of our company, and find out how you can become part of this exciting theatrical event.
Bring your friends, your family, and anyone who appreciates great storytelling. Everyone is welcome!
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
7:00 PM
Admission: $6.50
We look forward to sharing this unforgettable film—and an unforgettable evening—with you!
AUDITION NOTICE: JEFFREY
ActOut Theatre Group
Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick
Director: Sherry Jackson Thompson
Performance Dates: October 2-3 and 9-11
Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 5.
AUDITION DATES & LOCATION
- Dates: Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Both days)
- Location: Farish Theater (Central Library, 140 E Main St, Lexington, KY 40507)
- Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script
PRODUCTION & CASTING POLICY
We are seeking a vibrant, diverse, and fearless ensemble to bring Paul Rudnick’s hilarious and deeply moving comedy to life. All ethnicities, racial backgrounds, gender identities, and body types are encouraged to audition.
Please note: Listed ages are baseline character approximations. Actual casting is highly flexible and completely dependent on finding the right chemistry, energy, and balance for the full ensemble.
Click here to fill out an audition form
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN PRINCIPAL ROLES
JEFFREY (Male-identifying, 20s–30s): An aspiring actor working as a New York cater-waiter. Terrified of love and loss during the peak of the AIDS epidemic, he vows to become completely celibate. He is witty, deeply anxious, and charming. This role is the emotional anchor of the play.
STEVE (Male-identifying, 20's - 30's) A handsome, confident bartender and gym regular who pursues Jeffrey. He is HIV-positive but completely defined by his joy, resilience, and passion for living. Must be grounded and inherently charismatic.
STERLING (Male-identifying, 40s–50s): Jeffrey’s fiercely loyal friend. A high-end, highly successful Manhattan interior decorator. Sterling is flamboyant, unapologetic, and armed with blistering one-liners, but holds a profound capacity for grief and a massive heart. Requires brilliant comedic timing.
DARIUS (Male-identifying): Sterling’s younger boyfriend. A sweet, optimistic, and gloriously uninhibited dancer in the Broadway production of Cats. Even while facing advanced illness, his spirit remains entirely unshakeable.
ENSEMBLE / MULTI-ROLE TRACKS
Serling highly versatile character actors to play a dizzying, fast-paced array of satirical and grounded cameo roles.
ENSEMBLE TRACK 1 (Female-identifying, 30s–50s): Plays all female cameos. Roles include a superficial Manhattan socialite, a flamboyant Televangelist; and Jeffrey’s well-meaning Mother.
ENSEMBLE TRACK 2 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include Skip Winkley (a tacky, pastel-suit-wearing morning talk show host) and Angelique (a fierce, proud pre-op trans lesbian activist).
ENSEMBLE TRACK 3 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include Father Dan (a highly unorthodox, sexually liberated Catholic priest) and various gym-goers.
ENSEMBLE TRACK 4 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include a Show-tune-loving Thug who sings mid-mugging, a Newscaster, and a healthcare worker.
Coming October 2026
Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick
Directed by Sherry Jackson Thompson
Jeffrey is a warm, hilarious, and deeply moving romantic comedy about finding love when life offers no guarantees. Set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, Paul Rudnick's celebrated play reminds us that fear may shape our choices, but love gives our lives meaning. With sparkling wit and an unforgettable heart, Jeffrey remains as relevant and life-affirming today as when it first premiered.
Performance Dates:
Friday, October 2, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Friday, October 9, 2026
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Doors open at 7:00 pm
Showtime 7:30 pm
Sunday Matinee October 11, 2026
Doors open at 2:00 pm
Showtime 2:30 pm
The Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center
141 East Main Street
Lexington, KY
Tickets $25
Sponsored by Jim Gray, just fund KY. , and Valvoline-Prism
Presented by special permission of Concord Theatricals.
Tickets available Now!
Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein is a warm, poignant, and thought-provoking drama set in the early 1960s in the Catskills of New York. Inspired by true events, the play takes place in a secluded bungalow colony where a group of heterosexual men gather to express a hidden part of themselves by dressing and living as women—finding freedom, companionship, and identity in a world that otherwise demands secrecy.